Saliva ejector



March 2, 1954 T P, wALL w 2,670,539

SALIVA EJECTOR Filed Julyiz, 1952 IN VEN TOR. THOMAS' P 14/4 4 L TTGENEV' Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The filling or treatment of teeth following acoepted standards of dental practice requires the use of a saliva ejector to prevent accumulations of saliva which would moisten the exposed dentine prior to filling, and thus lead to possible infections and otherwise unsatisfactory results. The modern dentistry office, therefore, includes suitable saliva-removing equipment, such equipment comprising a source of suction, a nozzle element, properly termed a saliva ejector, which hooks over the patient's lower front teeth to position its intake end at the base of the gum where the saliva collects, and a fiexible hose connecting the outer or depending end of the saliva ejector nozzle tube to the `suction source. The

present invention concerns itself only with the' saliva ejector which engages the patient's mouth, -and relates directly in no way to the type nor to the details of the suction source, nor to the means by which the Saliva ejector'is connected to such source.

Because of the widely Variant shapes and sizes of human lower jaw structures, ranging from the extremes of small children to the extremes of large adults, it has been difficult, if not virtually impossible with previous types of saliva ejectors to maintain in a dentistry oice the necessary graduation and range of sizes of saliva ejectors sufiicient to provide one of Optimum fit for every patient treated. Ideally, with reference to the matter of fit, the combined weight of the saliva ejector and connecting hose should be borne almost entirely by the lower front teeth of the patient over which the element hooks, with the shank of the hook-shaped ejector nozzle tube hanging down alongside the patient's chin, and with the opposite or saliva intake end of the ejector positioned just out of contact with or very lightly touching the soft tissue between the root of the tongue and the base of the lower gum, so that collecting saliva will be withdrawn through one or more openings in that end of the ejector, yet the Sensitive tissue Will not be virritated due to pressure, nor will such tissue tend to close the intake openings because of exeessive pressure against the ejector surface. Previous types of saliva ejectors have been made in one or more standard sizes of fixed Shape, and if suited to one individual patient would be uncomfortable and inefiicient in operation for another.

In order to overcome this problem while satisfying the requirements of moderate cost, durability, ease of sterilization, low bulk and weight, and similar requirements obvious to those familiar with the art, the present invention provides an adjustable saliva ejector which may be conveniently manufactured in a single standard form and size and thereafter formed or adjusted to any effective Operating shape and size required in order to provide an optimum fit for every case with that one ejector or others like it.

The desired results are achieved in accordance With the preferred construction of the improved saliva ejector by forming the hook-shaped ejector nozzle tube of soft rubber or the like having provision at one end for connection to a suction hose or the like, and provided at its opposite end with one or more suction'openings adapted to eject or draw saliva from the patients mouth when suction is applied to the tube. In addition, a stiffener element, preferably of readily bendable ductile metal or the equivalent, amply stiff to retain its form, extends lengthwise along or through the rubber nozzle tube interior and permits establishing and varying the general hook form imparted to the nozzle tube so as to meet the requirements of various different cases presented. Such stiffener element, preferably internal to the nozzle tube .instead of external thereto,` is of a lesser cross section of the nozzle tube so that it does not interfere with a free flow; of air and Saliva through the nozzle tube. Preferably this stiffener element is suitably anchored'by one end to a metal sleeve by which the flexible nozzle tube is conveniently secured to a suction hose or the like when in use.

' Theisoftness, flexibility, ability to withstand boiling temperatures for sterilization purposes, and other properties of surgical rubber are properties of that material which render it ideally suited for the purposes of the nozzle tube according to the invention. The stiifness, ductility and ability to withstand repeated bendings without crystallization together with the convenience of working and Shaping are properties which render lead and similar metals or metal alloys ideal for. the stiffener element which, if formed as a Wire or strip, extends internally throughout a substantial part of the length of the nozzle tube. It should be understood, however, that the invention in its broader aspects is not necessarily limited to particular materials, nor is it necessarily limited to specific details of construction by which the principles are herein illustratively described.

The foregoingand other features, objeotsand advantag'eslof .the invetion .will become. more fully evident from the following description by reference to the aocompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the di assembled parts of the improved saliva eje'otor from tubingstock. There are added advantages representing the preferred form of theinvention,

Figure 2 is a sectional side view, taken on a longitudinal plane passing through' the axis of the nozzle tube, illustrating the Saliva ejectoi; bent into a hook-shapedzform readir for use, the viewshowing by dottedlines;v two different lalter-, native forms of which thereare any number that may, be achieved in order to suit individual cases. Figura 3 is a trvans'verse seotional view'taken'on line 3 -3,in Figure 2.

The several parts of the Saliva ejector as' illustra'ted in Figure l oomprise the elongated fiex'iblie nczzle tube 10, the elongated stifiener element' if, themounting sleeve [4 to which one endof the tube *18 andstiffener element 12' may be connected for convenient detachable seeurement to a suot'ion hose not shown) and the n'oaz'lev tip orifice insert sleeve 15 which fits'into the otherwise open' intake end of the nozzle tube. N I1`fh`e ill'ustrated stifien'er elementl 12; preferabl of lead or other readil bendable and nonresii-- i'ent or ductile material, is in the form of an eIon'- gated flat metal strip of a snifioient thickness t'o afford the des'ired stiifness in one 'pl'ane andof a width preferably slightly less than the internal' diamete'r of the noz'zle tube; so' as to pi'ee'lude b'endin'g i'n a perpendieular plane' a'd so' .as to tend to maintarijn itself approiimately .eentei'ed in the tube perpendioula'rly to the stripis general' plane'; The length o'f thestlrip projectingwbeyo'nd the inner end of the mountin'g. slee've M (Fig. 2) is' prefe'i'ably somewha't' less than the correspondin'g length of the nozz'le tube. For purposes of sup port; one end of the stiffener strip 52 i's reduc'ed' slig'htly in width in order to fit snug'ly inside the inner end of the moun't'ing sleeve. This .w'idth reduction forms Shoulders 5 2a which abut the end of the sleeve i and limit the amount of `insertio'n of the stiffener element inside 'the sleeve. f desired, a pe'rmanlent connection between the en'd of the stiifener element i'2 an'd the n'iou'ntin'g` sleeve M may be made'as 'by brazing; soldering; or otherwise. The opp'o's'ite end' of the stiffener element isrounded;v as Vindieaft'ed at |2b, in 'order to` mini mize any tendericy for sharp corr'ers to wearnthrough the wall of thenozzle tube' I IJ after i'epeated'bendings and iis'e of the' Saliva ejetoi'. A's previously mentioned, nole tib'e l' is preferably of rubber; although other fiexibl'e materials which would reasonably maintain their tbular formflwhenbent and subjected to the internal partial vaouum required for operation of the Saliva ejector are applicable lieu of rubhe'r.` A goodgradel of soft Vsurg'ica'l rubber is extremely durable and cfan with'stand numerous 'sterilza' tion treatments in' steam b'aths; moreover i't is Soft and its fejel to the patientis month is very comfortable: This in itelf is a distinct advantage over. the hard metallic' tube salii'a eieetoi's in commonjlse heretofore. r

In addition to the Hc'e'rit'ral' 'suctio'oi'i'fice provided by the sleeve IG inserted retentively into the orifice end of tube Ill opposite the mounting sleeve |4 (Fig. 2). a group of suction orifices lila in the tube wall near its tip are also provided. These extend around the tube's periphery and insure the availability of one or more Saliva intake openings clear of possible impeding mouth tissue at all times.

On amass, production basis, the stiifener strip ifs',1 cfonveniently made by ,die- Cutting thesame in quantities out of Sheet metal stock, and in any event is normally flat or .straight when first made, as is the flexible nozzle tube IG, which is made si'ipl by Cutting' the desired lengths of tube in having' these principal parts straight to begin with;which include facilitating the insertion of thestiffener element into the tube and permitting storage of a number of Saliva ejectors very compactly, arranged like Wood matches for instance, in' shipping" b'oxes or other suitable containers:

"With the parts-assembled as' indi'cate'd' m' Fieures' 2' an'd 3 the tube gra'sped in the' hands and b'ent to' any desiredShape'l in a plane Vperpendicu'- 1831' t'o the general p'la'ne of strip 12. The nature and amount of u'rvature of the hook thus formed may be varied very easily in a matter of seconds in' order to secure a comfortable yet Secure fit on a particular patient,l :while locating'the .intake end of the nozzle tube in an Optimum operatin'g position to remove saliva as fastas it accumulates. Byuse of proper materials for the tube. andl Stiffener elements an almost indefinite.,nu11ber of iebendings `may be attained without causing atigue ,or other type ofqfailure .of thetwo parts afie'cted, namely therubber tube and' the ductile metal stiffener element. v

I clair'n as my. invention:

1. A `dentisjtry, Saliva ejector` comprising ..an elongated relatively. flexibletubehaving a Saliva intake nozzlelend and an opposite end vadapted for connection to a suction source, and anelongated .relatively nonresilient stiffener element-ex tendinglengthwise,throughout a substantial portiori 'of vthe lengthof said tube internally thereof and being of materially lesser crosssection than the interior of Said tube to permitpassageuof liquid .therethrough .Said stiffener element comprising a ductile metal strip, of a width approah ing that` of the internalvtube width .andfof .a thokness ,comprising .a fraotion of. its width :but suicient to impart form retentive stifffnessjto the strip while permitting Said strip to be vloent readily for ;varying the curvature. of .said tube at will in order to fit different individual mouths. i 2,. .The saliva.,ejecterdefinedin:claim l, wherein the Saliva intake .nozzle end -of the flexible tubex has a plura1ityof Saliva .intake aperturs the Wall of 5116.11 tube,4 and Va .cylindrioalsleeve el-f mentgretentii/:ely iitted-in'the adiacent tip-of ,the tube and'having a `restricted opening therein permitting passage of 'salivainto saidtube. 3. .The saliva ejector clefined'in claim 1,' wherein the elongated stiifene'r element vextends length-A wise from the -su'ct'ion source end 'of the flex'ibl tube too, pointrof termination.locatedmaterially short of the Saliva intake en'd of th'e tubewhereby the intervening portion of 'saidvtube is relatively free to flex' and thereb'y mini-mi'ze pressure of the noz-zie end 'there-of against the'tissue i'n'side the patient'smouth. i 4.' A dentiti'v .saliva ejeotor compi'sing .an elozi'g'ted relativeiy ieiii'ole tube having a; saliveI inta'le' nfo'z'le' iid a'n'd an .oppb'siteend adaptet'l for'ooniieotion to ucticii Souroe, and an elon" gated relatively nonresilient stiffener element ex' tending lengthwise throughout a substantial portion of the length of said tube internaliy thereof from the latter end of said. tube to a point of terminaton materially short of the nozzle end thereof and being of materially lesser cross section than the interior of said tube to permit passage of liquid therethrough, said stiffener element having form retainng stiifness yet being readily bendable to permit varying the curvature of said tube at will in order to fit different individual mouths, ,while permitting fiexure of the portion of said tube between the terminal end of said stiffener element and the nozzle end of said tube minimizing pressure of contact of said nozzle end against the month tissue.

THOMAS P. WALL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

